Mark Francis Decoteau

THORNTON --- Mark Decoteau, 64, devoted family man, lifelong Army fan, and longtime town manager of Waterville Valley, NH, died on Saturday, September 6, at Tufts Medical Center, following complications from a heart attack.

Born in Lewiston, Maine on July 29, 1961, to Theresa M. Marcotte and Roland P. Decoteau, Mark grew up in South Paris, Maine with his younger sister Pam. He attended schools in the Oxford Hills system where he graduated in 1979 and faithfully returned for class reunions for many decades.

One of Mark’s proudest moments came in 1979 when he was admitted to the United States Military Academy at West Point. He graduated from the academy in 1983 and went on to become a successful Army officer.

After graduating from West Point, Mark reconnected with an old high school friend, the former Nancy Griffeth, who quickly became the love of Mark’s life. Mark and Nancy were married for 39 years and had three children as well as three grandchildren.

Mark eventually left the military, but the military never left him, and he enthusiastically cheered for Army in the Army-Navy football game every year. His oldest son Marc P. Decoteau followed in his father’s footsteps into the Army, but tragically, Marc died in military action in Afghanistan in 2010.

Mark obtained his Masters of Public Administration from John Jay College in New York in 1993 and embarked on a new career in town management. He held posts in municipal government in Lubec, Maine, as well as Farmington and Rochester, NH, before he became town manager of Waterville Valley in 2001. There he would stay for the next 24 years.

Mark loved going to his children’s games, especially the Plymouth Regional High School Bobcats football team during the years each of the boys played. A former Eagle Scout himself, Mark served as Scoutmaster of Troop 56 in Plymouth, NH. During his time as scoutmaster, several boys achieved the rank of Eagle Scout - one of which was his own son Andrew.

Mark had a love for history – he could name every battle of the Napoleonic Wars in order – and he was part of the Northern Conspiracy Wargamers Club. Over the years, the men in this brotherhood, became Mark’s very good friends.
Mark also grew into a man of deep faith over the years. As his widow Nancy said, Mark knew where he was heading to spend eternity!

Mark is survived by his daughter, Medora Hall and her husband Zachary of Vancouver, WA, and their two girls – Evalena, 6 and Martha, 3; son, Andrew Decoteau and wife Krista of St. Robert, MO and their son Marc, 1 ½. In addition to his parents, Mark was predeceased by his older son, Marc, who died on Jan 29, 2010 at the age of 19.

Mark is also survived by his sister, Pamela Tracy and her husband Joe Tracy of South Paris. In addition, Mark is survived by his sister’s three children: daughter, Jen Lashin and husband Jason and their 3 daughters, Brooke, Madison and Emily; son, Joshua and wife Brittany and their daughter, Alexys; daughter, Nicole Duguay and husband Andrew and their three children, Mason, Payton and Rylee.

Calling Hours will be held from 5:00 - 7:00 PM, Friday, September 26, 2025, at the Mayhew Funeral Home, 12 Langdon Street, Plymouth, NH.

Funeral Services will be held at 3:00 PM, Saturday, September 27, 2025, on Packard’s Field in Waterville Valley.

Arrangements are under the care of Mayhew Funeral Homes and Crematorium. To sign the online book of memories, please go to mayhewfuneralhomes.com.